Internal-combustion engine starter



y 29, 1952 w. H. SCHNACKE 2,604,882

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE STARTER Filed July 20, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1INVENTOR 3 4% w. H. SCHNACKE ATTORNEY July 29, 1952 w. H. SCHNACKE2,604,882

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE STARTER Filed July 20, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 2INVEN TOR.

W H- SCHNACKE BY ATTORNEY Patented July 29, 1952 Q i: 1 r I 2,604,882 IINTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE STARTER l Walter-H. S-chnacke, l lifm s i qjed 1950, Serial minim; I

7"Claims.' (01 1234185) This-invention relates to interna'l combustion 1engines and more particularly; to starters of the pull type which arecommonly used on outboard motors and other relativelysmallinternalcornbustion engines Heretofore many starters of this typehave been proposed and utilized but these possessed numerousdisadvantagessuch as comple'xityof c9nstructionandliability to damage orfailure, thus necessitatinglfrequent repair bills and'eone artfstartersrequired complicated pawl and ratchet mechanisms, also centrifugal aclutches and the. like which of neeessity wererather com; plicated andunlessof extremely rugged com struction nisms such asstart'ers musthe'fdolproof as possible. 'In'u'sing such motors the owner oftenventures far from. shore, a case of an 'outboard motor, anda fai'lureofthe starter orother component part may well result in spending anuncomfortablenight on the water or in some instances might result inserious. consequences due tolfstorfms and the like; Consequently; any

, mechanism used, in such applications-must be relativelysimple, ofextremely rugged and light construction and not; susceptible of frequentfailure.

sequent loss" of time in use. Many or these prior estremely liable'tobieakage orv other It 'aecordingly an object 'of'this invention. to

provide an internal Combustion engines. starter of the pull type "inwhich av minimum number of pa'iftsare utilized and in which the partsmay be of'xtremely rugged construction and thus not susceptible offailure.

It is a further object of this invention toprovide an internalcombustion engine starter of the pull type in which clutch means isprovided for automatically engaging and disengaging the startermechanism with the crankshaft of the enginev to be started and in whichthe driving and driven clutch members are automatically engaged anddisengaged simply by the operation of pulling the starting rope andreleasing the same upon starting of the engine. i ,It is a furtherobject of the invention to provide an internal combustion starter of thepull type in which a minimum number of parts are utilized and which maybe applied to existing motors or supplied as original equipment with thesame, l It. is a further object of the invention to propull type inwhich relatively lfewparts. re ui e accuratemachine lwork 'jand' which,consequently, maybe econom' any manufactured and produced for sale in ahighly competitive market,

, Other objects and advantages of the invention will be lapparenti'fr inthe following description taken in Tconjunb'tionwith the drawiigawherein;

1 Fig, 1 is a t p plan mew of thelstarterof'this invention'jf I j j H rl I Fig, 2;. a' seetienalyiewibn the line 2%21 of "Fig. l and showing'the internal construction of the starter of thisinventio v r V Fig. 3,'asectionaljvie' similar t0"Fig.i2 on'the line 33 of Fig; l wit'certain'par'tsin" elevation f rer aifityif 1 pi v Fig, 4 afragmentary'l'sectional view on the iine'lel fi l "Fi'gi 5; anjexplodedviewpf the driving clutch nieinb'erjan'dassociatedparts;.and'Fig; 6; an"elev'a tional view" of the driving-clutch member assembledwith its associatedfparts;

With continued reference to 'the' drawing there is shown particularly inFig; 2'an inverted cupshaped housing in "which? is adapted to be securedto amo'torpart ll such asythe'gasoline tank or other-appropriatestructurdthehousing I ll serving, to cover and enclose the-flywheel"! 2mounted "on the crank} shaft-1 3 of thefmotor. The flywheel j'"|'2iSf'h'ld. in place on the crank shaft '1 3 by 'a driven'clutch' member-I t provided with an internally thre'aded" bore 15 which -en gages"mating threads on "the crank shaft l 3 to securely clampthefiywheellZin place. The driven" clutch .member I 4 replaces the nut normallysupplied with the-motor'toclamp the" fly wheel 12* in place. On,theuppersurface" of driven clutchmemberI4 'thereis provided a vide aninternal combustion engine starter of the series of {saw-toothshaped-clutch teeth I 6 which serve'to engage with other clutchteethpresently to be described; Thehousing' ll! may beprovided with anannular fiange';'l1?liaving apertures l8 for-the reception of'screi'v-thre'aded fasteners or the' like for l securing the starting"mechanism inplace on'themotoifs f I Adjacent the u percase: the'-housing 10 there isprovided an "inwardly eitending annu: larflange"!!!'havingiai'seriesof *apertures iiil provided therein for the"reception of" screwthreadedffasterfing ineans or the like 21 whichthreadedly engage a clamping ring 22 disposed below'the flange l9 andserve to5firmly secure in position a cover'2'3' anda' driving clutchsupporting. plate 24. The apertures 20 are somewhat larger than thescrew-threaded fastenin means 2! for. a purpose to be presentlydescribed.

best shown in .Figs.'f5 and 6; driving clutch member 25 comprises agenerally cylindrical member having a series of saw-tooth shaped teeth26 on the lower surface thereof, these teeth serving to mate with andengage the teeth M on the driven clutch member |4. Driving clutch member25 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed spiral slots 21which are engaged by a pin 28 disposed in an aperture 29 in a clutchshaft or spindle 30. Clutch spindle 30 is rotatably mounted withinclutch driving member 25 and the rotational movement thereof relative tothe clutch member 25 is limited by the pin 28 dieposed in spiral slots21.

Fixed to the plate 24 and carried thereby is a clutch spindle bearing 3|having a bore therein for rotatably receiving a reduced portion-32 oftheclutch spindle 30. Integral with the-bearing 3| is a friction sleeve 33.As best shown in Fig. 3,

sleeve 33' is provided with opposed spiral slot-.534 which formresilient spiral fingers. The" split sleeve 33 serves to grip the outersurface of the driving clutch memberv25 fora purpose to be presentlydescribed. 4]

Thev upper end of the spindle30 is provided with a screw-threadedportion 35 for threadedly receiving a winding drum 36 having a hub 31and an outer grooved periphery 38 which serves to receive a flexiblecable 39 having one' end secured to' the drum 36 and the opposite endprojecting through a sleeve 40 provided on the cover 23, the cableterminating in a pull handle 4| exteriorly of the starting device. V Aswill be seen from an inspection of Figs. 2

4 clutch member M and the rotor may be assumed to be at rest or stopped.When it is desired to start the motor, it is only necessary for theoperator to grasp the handle 4| and pull the same toward him in whichcase the winding drum 36 will be rotated in a clock-wise direction toturn the clutch spindle or shaft 30 and pin 28 carried thereby, thispinmoving in the spiral slots 21 in the driving clutch member 25 toproject the clutch member downwardly and the teeth 25 xthereof intoengagement with teeth IE on the driven clutch member 14. This relativemovement of the driving clutch member 25 is accomplished by reason ofthe frictional engagement of the split sleeve 33 with the outer surfaceof the clutch member '25. As will clearly be seen from an inspection ofthe drawing, this frictional engagement prevents rotary movement of theclutch member 25 with relation to the shaft or spindleuntil the pin 28engages the end of spiral slots 21, thus causing the slots to act as acam and force the"clutch member 25 downwardly, into engagement with thedriven clutch member i4. Continued movement of the handle 4| outwardlycauses rotation of the motor and starting thereof. This movement of thehandle 4| also serves to wind the spring 43 causing sufiicient tensionto returnflthehandle' 4| to'original position when thesameis releasedafterstarting of the motor.

and. 3, the winding drum 36 is provided with an to permit convenienttightening of the shaftl 30 I in the hub 31 of the winding drum 3B. 7

In assembling the device on a completed motor or in assembling thedevice on motor during factory assembly it is only necessary to applythe nut 14 to the crank shaft I3 thus securing the fiywheel l2 in place,nut M, as stated above, forming the driven clutch member of the starterand in the case of an already completed motor this nut wouldrepl-ace'the conventional nut supplied with the motor; and nextassembling the starting unit on the motor by clamping the housing ID inplace by screw-threaded fastening means or the likeextending throughapertures H3 in flange H. The driving clutch member 25 is, centered withrelation to the driven clutch member H by moving the plate 24 whichserves to carry bearing 3| and driving clutch member '25 and itsassociated clamping screws 2.| in the enlarged apertures 20 until thedriving clutch member 25 is accurately centered with relation to thedriven clutch member I4 whereupon the clamping screws 2| are securelytighte'nedjin place. This serves also to retain the cover 23, whichhouses the winding drum 36 in place onthe as-'- sembly. It will be notedthat the housing'w is provided with a series of apertures 45 to permitsuitable ventilation around the upper part of the motor. v I f.

The operation of the device may ,be explained with particular referenceto Fig. 2 of the drawshown as out of engagement with the driven fllpon'starting of the motor the handle 4| is released or permitted to moveinwardly toward the starting mechanism whereupon under the action ofspring 43 which became tensioned by the. outward movement of the handle4! the winding drum 36 is rotated in the opposite direction thusrotating the clutch shaft 30 in the same direction and causing the pin28 to move in the slots Zl'toretract the driving clutch member upwardlyandcause disengagement of the teeth 26 with the teeth lfi'on the drivenclutch member 4. Such upward'n ovement of the driving clutch memb'er'25'is caused by the frictional engagement of the split sleeve.33ffwith1the external surface there'ofin the samemann er as describedabove inconnection with the projection of the driving clutch memberdownwardly. Upward movement of the driving clutch member 25 is alsoassisted by the inclined engaging surfaces of the sawtoothsliaped clutchteeth 26 and Hi since upon starting of the motor the crank shaft l3 anddriven clutch member [4 carried thereby overruns the driving clutchmember 25 and the clutch teeth ex'ercise'a camming action which tends tourge the driving 'clutch member 25 upwardly. Duringvoperation of themotor, downward movement of the driving clutch member 25 is preeluded bythe frictional engagement of split sleeve 33 'with the external surfacethereof, since it is necessary for clutch member 25 to rotate withrelation to clutch shaft 30 in order for the same to movedovvnwardly andteeth 26 to come into engagement with the teeth i6.

j It will be seen that by the above-described invention there has beenprovided an extremely simple," economically manufactured startingmechanism which may be conveniently applied to new motors or toy motorsalready in existence and one in 'which inadvertent engagement of theclutch teethduri'ng operation of the motor is prejIt '-wi-1 l be'obvious' to those skilled in the art that various changes may be madein the inven tion, without departing from the spirit and scope thereofand, therefore, the invention is not limited by thatwhich is 'shown -inthe drawingsand described in the specification, but only as indicated inthe appendedclaims; H j

Whatisclaimedisal v l'; An internal "combustion-engine starting d'evicecomprising a driven clutch member fixed to the crank sha-f-t of theengine and having-saw tooth shaped teeth, 'a housing" securedto a fixedpart of said engine and having aninw-ar'dly extending flange, aplurality 'of-"ang-ularly spaced apertures in said flange, a plateengaging the upper surface of said flange, a centrally disposed bearingextending through said plate and supported thereby, a' split sleeveextendingaxi'ally from said bearing toward said driven clutch member, aclutch spindlerotatably mounted in said bearing and extending therefromin both directions, a driving clutclimem-berrotatably'received'on saidsp'indle Within-said sleeve, said sleev frictionally engaging theexternal surface of said driving clutch member, diametrically dis posedspiral slots in said driving clutch member, a pin extending through saidspindle and engag ing said slots to limit relative rotationbetween saiddriving clutch member, and said spindle, complementary teeth on saiddrivin'gi clutch member for engagingthe teeth on said driven clutchmember, a winding drum securedto-the opposite end of said-spindle, aspiral spring secured to said winding drum and said bearing, a; flexiblmember having one end secured to said winding drum and th other endterminating in a-handle exteriorly'of .said device, a clamping ringdisposed beneath said fiange'and'having threaded apertures, av cover forsaid winding drum faridfastening' means for. said-cover extendingthrough said plate and the apertures in said flange and engagingthethreaded apertures in said clamping ring to se cure said plate, bearingand parts carried thereby in position the apertures of said flange beinglarger than'said fastening means to permitadjustment of the parts,whereby upon movement of said flexible member to rotate said windingdrum in'one direction said spring'will betensioned and said drivingclutch memberwill .be projected by said pin andslot into engagementwithsaid driven clutch member to rotate the same and upon reverserotation ofsaid winding drum under the action of said springsaid driving clutchmember will beretracted, the operation of said pin and slot'being'causedby'the frictional engagement of said sleeve with said driving clutchmember, the retraction of said driving clutch member being assisted bysaid sawtooth shaped teeth. i

2. An internal combustion engine startingdevice comprising a drivenclutch member fixed to the crank shaft of the engine and having teeth, ahousing secured to a fixed part of said engine and having an inwardlyextending flange, a plurality of angularly spaced apertures ins'aidflange,- a plate engaging the uppersurface of said flange, a centrallydisposed bearing extending through said plate and supported thereby, asplit sleeve extending axially from said bearing toward said drivenclutch member, a clutch spindle rotatably mounted in said bearing andextending therefrom in both directions, a driving clutch memberrotatably received on said spindle within said sleeve, said sleevefrictionally engaging the external surface of said driving clutchmember, diametrically disposed spiral slots in said driving clutchmember, a pin extending through said spindle and engaging said slots tolimit relative rotation between said driving clutch 6 member and saidspindle, complementary teeth oi'i-"said driving 'clutch men iber forengaging-the teeth on said 'ven clutcumember, winding drum secured I theopposite end of sa'id pi'ndle, a spiral; spr'ing secured to said winding drum and said bearing, a fleidble member -having one end securedto said winding drum and the other end terminating in a handleexterior'ly 'ot said device, a clamping ring disposed beneath sa'idflange and having threaded a ertures; a cover forsaid winding-drum andfastening means-io'r said cover extendingthrough said plate and theapertures in said flange and engaging the threaded apertures in saidclamping ring to secure said plate, bearing and parts carr'ied' the byin position," the apertures 'ofsaid fiange i-1g larger than saidfastening-means to perrnit djustment of the parts, whereby upon movementof" said flexible member to rotate said-winding. drum in one directionsaidfspringwill'be tensione'd and' said d-riving clutch memberwill beprojected by said p-in and slot into engagement with said driven clutchmember to rotate the same and-"upon reverse rotation of said windingdrum under the action of said spring said driving clutch member will beretracted, the operation of said pin andslot being caused by thefrictional engagement of said sleeve with saidd-rivingI clutch memben i3-. Andnternal combustion engine startingde- 'vicecomprising adrivenclutch member fixed tothe crankshaft of th'e 'engineand havingteeth,

a housing secured'to afixed'part of said engine,

aplate engaging the upperfsurface ofsaid housing, a centrallyf'dispos'edTbearing extending through" said plateand 5 supported" thereby, "a

split sleeve extending "axially from saidbearing toward said drivenclutch me'ml'cer, a clutch spindle rotatably mounted in said bearing'and extending" therefrom in both directions, 'a driving clutchmember'rotatably received onsaidspindle within said sleeve; saidsleevefrictionallyfengagingth external surface of s'aid drivi ngclutchmember; diametrically disposed spiral 5 slots; in said driving clutchmember; a pin extending through {said spindle and engaging a saidslots'f to limit relative rotation betweensaid driving clutch member andsaid spindle complementary teeth on said-driving clutch memberforenga'ging the teeth on said driven clutch member; awinding drum i ed t ppofs te' nd 'f saidisp l'e;

a spiral spring secured to said 'windin'gfd rumand said, bearing, afiexible member, having one end secured to said winding drum" and theother end'terminating in "a handle exteriorlyfof said device, a coverfor said winding drum anfdifastening means forysecuringsaid 'cover,,.said plate, bearing and f parts carried thereby'in position, wherebyupon movement. of said flexible member torotate saidwinding drum in onedirection said spring will betensi'oned and saiddriving' clutch memberwill'be projected by said 'pin'and slot into engagement with said'drivenclutch member to rotate the same' and upon reverse rotation of saidwinding drum under the action of said spring said driving clutch memberwill be retracted, the operation of said pin and slot being caused bythe frictional engagement of said sleeve with said driving clutchmember.

4. A device, as defined in claim 3, in which said sleeve is providedwith diametrically disposed spiral slots to form spirally disposedspring fingers.

5. An internal combustion engine starting device comprising a drivenclutch member fixed to to a fixed part of;said' engine, a plate engagingthe upper surface of said housing: a; centrally disposed bearingextending through said plate and supported thereby, a split, sleeveextending axially from said bearing toward said driven clutch member,a;clutch spindle rotatably mounted in said bearing and extendingtherefrom in both directions, a driving clutch member rotatably receivedon said spindle within said sleeve, said sleeve frictionally engagingthe external surface of said driving clutch member, diametricallydisposed spiral slots in said driving clutch member,a pin extendingthrough said spindle and engaging said slots to limit relative rotationbetween said driving clutch 'member and said spindle, complementarymeans on said driving clutch member and said driven clutch member forproviding driving engagement therebetween, a winding drum secured to theopposite endlof said spindle, a spiral spring secured to said windingdrum and said bearing, a flexible member having one end secured to saidwinding drum and the other end'terminating in a handle exteriorly ofsaid device, a cover for said winding drum and fastening means forsecuring said cover, said plate, bearing and parts carried-thereby inposition, whereby upon movement of said flexible member to rotate saidwinding drum in one direction said spring will be tensioned and saiddriving clutch member will bev projected by said pin and slot intoengagement with said driven clutch member to rotate the same and uponreverse rotation of said winding drum under the action 'of said spring,said driving clutch member will be retracted, the operation-of said pinand said slot being caused by the frictional engagement of said sleevewith said driv ing clutch member.

6. An internal combustion engine starting device comprising adrivenclutch member for attachment to the crank-shaft of the engine, a housinghavingmeans for mounting on a fixed part ofsaid engine, a plate engagingthe upper surface of said housing, a centrally disposed bearingextending through said plate and supported thereby, a clutch spindlerotatably mounted in said bearing and extending therefrom in bothdirections, a driving clutch member rotatably received on said spindle,friction means mounted on said plate and engaging said driving clutchmember, diametrically disposed spiral slots in said driving clutchmember, a .pin extending through said spindle and engaging said slots tolimit relative rotation between said driving clutch member and saidspindle, complementary means on said driving clutch member and saiddriven clutch member for providing driving engagement therebetween, awinding drum secured to the opposite end of said spindle, resilientmeans secured to said winding drumand a fixed portion of said device, aflexible member having one end secured to said winding drum and theother end terminating in a handle exteriorly of said device,

a cover for said winding drum and common fastening means for securingsaid cover, said plate, bearing and parts carriedthereby in position,whereby upon movement of saidfiexible member to rotate said windingdrumin one direction said resilient means will be tensioned and said drivingclutch member will be projected by said pin and slot into engagementwith said driven clutch member to rotate the same and upon reverserotation of said winding drum under the action of said resilient means,said driving clutch member will be retracted, the operation of said pinand slot being caused by said frictional engaging means.

7. An internal combustion engine starting device comprising a drivenclutch member for attachment to the crank shaft of the engine, a housinghaving means for mounting on a fixed part of said engine, a plateengaging theupper surface of said housing, a centrally disposed bearingextending through said plate and supported thereby, a clutch spindlerotatably mounted in said bearing and extending therefrom in bothdirections, a driving clutch member rotatably received on'said spindle,means fixed to said plate and frictionally engaging said driving clutchmember, cooperating cam means on said spindle and said driving clutchmember whereby upon relative rotation therebetween said driving clutchmember will be extended or retracted, complementary means on saiddriving clutch member and said driven clutch member to provide drivingengagement therebetween; a winding drum secured to the opposite end ofsaid spindle, resilient means secured to said winding drum and a fixedportion of said device, a flexible member having one end secured to saidwinding drum and the other end terminating in a handle exteriorly ofsaid device and common fastening means for securing said plate, bearingand parts carried thereby in position, whereby upon movement of saidflexible member to rotate said winding drum in one direction saidresilient means will be tensioned and said driving clutch member will beprojected by the action of said cam means into engagement with saiddriven clutch member to rotate the same and upon reverse rotation ofsaid winding drum under the actionof said resilient means said drivingclutch member will be retracted, the operation of said cam means beingcaused by the engagement of said frictional means with said drivingclutch member.

WALTER. H. SCHNACKE. v

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PAT NTS Number l ate I I Goiot Jan. 11, 1944

